There are a number of bedroom artists who have broken through the mass of generic, electronic pop. Baths, How To Dress Well, and Washed Out are among the artists who’ve gone from recording in secluded bedrooms to playing for crowds. Gracie, also known as Andrew Balasia, is about to join their ranks.
Balasia is from Philadelphia and is releasing Treehouse through Small Plates Records. The label specializes in vinyl, and this is its first 12”. The EP’s runtime is about 24 minutes, but when it ends you won’t have noticed its brevity. It kicks off with “Sisters,” a slow progression of drum samples, handclaps, and synth. Balasia sings, “You know the way you make me feel this morning / Rise and shine / Sleepy eye / Rub ‘em out” before a shimmering synth line flares up over a shaking tambourine. “Candii” features a wobbly synth line that sounds more retro than modern. Before long, the vocals kick in and build up to a mellow mix of backup harmonies and airy electronics.
“Southern Place” comes in with low frequency bass and a head-nodding beat that provides the foundation for a spacey atmosphere. The light clink of piano keys starts to become inaudible as the track swells towards its finish. “Tryck R Treat” uses a heavily filtered kick drum to drive the track through familiar synth territory. This track features the most heartfelt lyrics on the EP, with Balasia singing “Gotta get this shit together / When in doubt, this won’t last forever.” A soft guitar solo offers a refreshing break from the retro vibe found throughout Treehouse. The EP ends with “Playpen,” which features reverb-saturated vocals over light chimes and a heavy rhythm section.
While this is a solid EP, Treehouse could potentially go by unnoticed because physically it is a vinyl-only pressing. A couple tracks can be heard on Gracie’s Bandcamp page, but only one track is available to download. Fortunately the album is available on iTunes, so hopefully the album doesn’t get buried beneath technicalities.
